Abravanel writes that after Caleb petitioned Joshua for Hebron, and after Caleb took possession of it,
Joshua saw fit to begin the lottery system for divvying up Israel among the tribes. First to receive their
real estate in Canaan was the tribe of Judah. Joshua, who of course did not know where Judah’s borders
would fall, was more than curious to see what Heaven had in mind. Specifically, Abravanel learns,
Joshua was keen to know if Judah’s territory would abut Hebron, or be miles away from it. In other
words, Joshua had been eager to learn if Caleb, prince of Judah, would dwell in Hebron apart from his
tribesmen, or not.
“And the lot for the tribe of the Children of Judah according to their families was
unto the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the
uttermost part of the south.”
God’s answer came swiftly to Joshua. “And the lot for the tribe of the Children of Judah…was until the
border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward…” Divine providence smiled upon Caleb and
the tribe of Judah. Hebron would not be isolated. Rather, it would be nestled well within the tribe’s
boundaries. “And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the Children of Judah,
according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even Kiriath-arba, which Arba was the father of
Anak--the same is Hebron.” It also served to affirm providence’s nod to Joshua’s pledge to give Hebron
to Caleb.
Abravanel explained elsewhere that Hebron should not be viewed as an extra-territorial grant. Instead,
it was an integral component of Judah’s overall holdings. Owing to Judah’s large population, it needed
space. Lots of it.
Regarding Hebron, Caleb had not petitioned the holy city of the patriarchs for personal aggrandizement.
He had altruistic motivation at heart. This has been discussed in the previous essay. In brief, the mighty
Caleb valiantly led his troops to liberate Israel’s south. “And Caleb drove out thence the three sons of
Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. And he went up thence against the
inhabitants of Debir--now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher.” Abravanel says that Caleb
set his sights on Debir, because it lay in close proximity to Hebron. Hence, he sought to secure the holy
city.
Mighty, Caleb was. But he was aging. Leading troops became increasingly burdensome, and so he
offered a reward. “And Caleb said: He who smites Kiriath-sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah
my daughter to wife.” The offer, not surprisingly, has been criticized by commentators. What, they
wrote, if the man who smote Kiriath-sepher was a lout? Is that what a father would want for a
daughter?
How did things develop? Again, providence smiled on old Caleb and his daughter Achsah. “And Othniel
the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.” No sooner
had the couple wed than Achsah came up with a plan. “And it came to pass, when she came unto him,
that she persuaded him to ask of her father a field. And she alighted from off her ass; and Caleb said
unto her: What would you like?”
Imminently, Achsah would ask her father for a blessing in the form of land. Why, Abravanel asks, did she
need to dismount her donkey to ask a favor? Surely, she could have asked from the comfort of her
saddle.
Here is Abravanel’s approach to Caleb and Achsah. “And it came to pass, when she came unto him, that
she persuaded him to ask of her father…” Back in the day, it was frowned upon for women to ask
something of their fathers or husbands, unless given permission by the husband to do so. Because
Achsah was a worthy woman, and conformed to societal norms, she asked and received permission
from Othniel, her husband. In fact, as stated, they were newlyweds: “And it came to pass, when she
came unto him, and that she persuaded him…” Achsah, in other words, persuaded Othniel to allow her
to make a request of her father Caleb.
Circling back, Abravanel offers two reasons why Achsah dismounted before speaking to her father.
Possibly, she alighted in order to “butter up dad.” After all, she was about to ask for a significant gift.
Alternatively, she sprang off her donkey because she had been absorbed in thought, concentrating on
how to formulate her request.
Be that as it may, a tumbling daughter grabbed father’s attention. “And Caleb said unto her: What
would you like?” To this, “And she said: Give me a blessing, for that you have set me in the Southland,
give me therefore springs of water.” Achsah pleaded for “the blessing” insofar as her land holdings were
arid, lacking water resources. To his daughter’s request, Caleb agreed. “And he gave her the Upper
Springs and the Nether Springs.”